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Spain anti-tourism mob planning to ‘occupy beaches’ AGAIN this summer… as Brits hit back over ‘do not come’ letter


SPANISH anti-tourism mobs have vowed to “occupy” beaches again this summer to make Brits stay at home.

The threat comes as Brits hit back against an open letter telling them not to visit popular spots like Majorca.

a crowd of people holding signs including one that says tourist respect my land

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People protesting against tourists in the Canary IslandsCredit: EPA
a man holding a sign that says la invasion no viene en patera viene en avion

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Flag-waving local residents beat drums and blew whistles as they wandered along the shoreline in Playa de las AmericasCredit: AFP
Illustration of a map showing protests against tourism in several European cities.

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Last year, raging protestors banded together to harass tourists and make turn their summer breaks into misery.

And this year, the raging zealots have promised to “intensify” the intimidation.

They have already barricaded a beach in Ibiza with boulders.

Pere Joan is the spokesperson and organiser for Menys Turisme Més Vida – meaning “Less Tourism, More Life”.

He told the Mirror: “We hope to do the same and occupy the beaches in places that have a mass of tourists.”

Last year, MTMV massed together up to 40,000 people to stick it to the tourists.

The campaigner said: “We are demanding from local government to put restrictions on outsiders buying housing. We want taxes on empty houses.

“We want control of illegal Airbnbs. One of our demands is to decrease the number of planes that come to Majorca.”

They claimed that Brits are the source of their “serious” problems, damaging “quality of life” and fuelling environmental degradation.

Pere explained why felt tourism was at the root of the issue.

Anti-tourist protesters storm ‘drunk beach’ in Majorca over ‘low quality’ visitors as Brits flock there on hols

He said: “The demands of mass tourism mean the consumption of water, energy, food and land, something which limits Majorca.

“The other problem is the housing. The prices have increased so much. Many local people leave the city and go to some towns that are cheaper to live and rent.”

Several protest groups penned an open letter setting out their grievances.

The letter read: “ENOUGH! STAY HOME! We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem.

“DO NOT COME.”

Protest against tourism policies in Tenerife.

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Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of TenerifeCredit: Getty
Protest against tourism policies in Tenerife.

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Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies in TenerifeCredit: Getty
Protestor holding a sign that says "Tourist Go Home" at a demonstration.

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Anti-tourist marches have been going on across Spain since last summer

It said the problems have been made worse by “greed and avarice” of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and “parasites’ of all kinds”.

But Brits have pushed back – pointing out that the local economy depends on income from the tourism that is being attacked.

One Brit who has owned a holiday villa on Mallorca for over 30 years wrote to Majorca Daily Bulletin: “It’s sad British people are no longer welcome, even though over the years we’ve ploughed a lot into the island’s economy.

“The inhabitants there ought to stop and think what will happen to their economy when people like us stop going?

Large group of people sitting on a beach under a striped umbrella.

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Majorcan families gather on the beach of Sa Ripita to protest mass tourism
a person holding a sign that says las playas

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Another protester holds a sign reading ‘The beaches are ours’Credit: AFP
Patrons dining at an outdoor restaurant separated by plastic barriers.

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The protesters shouted ‘Tourists go home’ as they marched in thousandsCredit: Alamy

“What else do they have apart from sun, sand and places to visit, i.e. a holiday resort.

“They need the economy from tourism to survive! So people from Mallorca please stop and think before you alienate us!”

Somebody else promised they would “continue to enjoy [their] annual holiday in Majorca”, but hoped their presence “doesn’t result in any confrontation”.

A third said they wouldn’t want to return to Majorca anyway, because it has gone down hill.

They wrote: “I have no intention of ever returning to Mallorca. Been there, seen it, done it, got the t-shirt and video.

“It has become a money making tourist trap. Over priced tat, overpriced food and drink. Surly waiters, you name it.”

Anti-tourist measures summer 2024

A WAVE of anti-tourist measures were implemented across Europe to curb mass tourism in popular holiday hotspots in summer 2024.

Overcrowding has become the main problem in many sunny destinations, with authorities trying to find a solution to keep tourists and locals happy.

Officials have attempted to reduce the impact of holidaymakers by implementing additional taxes on tourists, or banning new hotels.

In 2024 Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for holidaymakers after it started charging day-trippers €5 (£4.30) if visiting the historical Italian centre.

It was followed by an area in Barcelona which resorted to removing a well-used bus route from Apple and Google Maps to stop crowds of tourists from using the bus.

 Meanwhile, San Sebastián in the north of Spain, limited the maximum number of people on guided visits to 25 to avoid congestion, noise, nuisance and overcrowding.

The city has already banned the construction of new hotels.

The Spanish government has allowed restaurants to charge customers more for sitting in the shade in Andalucia.

Benidorm has introduced time restrictions, as swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am could cost a whopping £1,000.

The Canary Islands are also considering adopting measures to regulate the number of visitors – and charge tourists a daily tax.

Greece has already enforced a tourist tax during the high season (from March to October) with visitors expected to pay from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.45) per night, depending on the booked accommodation.

Officials in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia want to introduce a fee for travellers to remind people to be courteous during their trips.

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